Hag* 6
Portland Observer
Thursday. May 11, 1978
Entertainment Guide
by A lb e Jo«««
HARVEY MASON A ND MERRY CLAYTON - DOIN' THEIR THING
B l.lE .S S IN G E R H O N O R E D - Alberta Hunter who staged a comeback at age 82
last year, is the May recipient of the Gordon's V adka Good Gal Award. She is being
honored for "deeds that help make the world a better place." She worked as a
practical nurse for 20 years after retiring from show business in 1954. Gordon s will
also make a donation to the N A A C P on behalf of the singer who has fought against
bigot rs
.American Entertainment, a relatively new promotion company in Portland has been
producing some pretty good shows as of late. Their latest effort being the exciting
sounds of Harvey Mason and the gifted song styling of Merry Clayton.
This marked the first time I had ever been to the Earth Tavern in Northwest
Portland. And if they continue to attract the quality of entertainment I witnessed last
W ednesday night you'll see me there »gain. They played two shows during their one
night stand. However, a day would have been more like it. at least many of you who
are reading this column would have had a chance to catch one of the sets.
Drummer Harvey Mason and his seven piece band had the stage literally smoking
with up beat jazz selections from his latest album. Although the house wasn't totally
full from the first show, you could have fooled anyone passing by the club, because the
audience, as well as the musicians, were totally intuned with one another from start to
finish!
Merry Clayton was icing on the cake as far as the total show was concerned. I’ve
known Merry for about ten years now. 1 met her at different social gatherings from
time to time in Loe Angeles years ago. But the facts remain the same she's still the
singer I remember years ago. Although I think she's lost some of the showmanship
she was so noted for in the past.
Not to say that she doesn't have it together, because she does, but much of the
gusto she once had isn’t there anymore. Unfortunately Ms. Clayton hasn't had the
breaks that many of her peers have enjoyed down through the years for various
reasons. But 1 am still convinced there's a star out there with her name on it - so does
John W endeborn. Entertainment Editor for the Oregonian; Gene Diamond, singer;
Melvin Nelson, jazz buff; and me. We were all seated together so we can't all be
wrong!
Jack Moe, Sales M anager, M ike Ingram, and used car manager BUI Briggs, discuss
Ingram's nee job as floor manager lor l.vnn Kirby lo r d . |above|
Ingram discusses sales techniques w ith the sales people he supervises: BUI
DeM eese. M ariah Brady, Steve Gabrielson and Darcy Anderson. See story on Page 1.
I below |
Festival participants waated
During the NAACP National Conven
the initial costs. Also needed are artists,
tion. to be held in Portland from July 3rd
businesses, vendors, and those who
to July 7th. a Community Festival will be
would set up booths to either sell or show
held at Holiday Park.
According to
their wares and organizations who wish
Charles
R.
White,
chairman
of the Com
to sell food items.
SEW YORK - Blues singer Alberta
the Cafe Socities, nightspots on Sheridan
munity Festival committee, the festival
An integral part of the festival will be
Hunter - who dropped out of sight in
Square and Park Avenue.
will
be
a
means
to
involve
the
local
live
performances throughout the day
1954 after being a show stopper on
The cafes were the first nightclubs
community in the Convention.
and evening. These will include a variety
Broadway and internationally acclaimed
ever to welcome an interracial audience
“The festival will bring artists, local
of musical groups, theater, poetry pre
by the end of World War II - and then
and feature both Black and white per
businesses, community organizations the
sentations. fashion shows and other
staged a comeback at the age of 82 last
formers on the same bill.
opportunity
to
share
in
the
economic
forms
of entertainment.
year, is the May recipient of the Gordon's
Josephson explains of Alberta Hunter's
Adding an air of festivity to the
comeback: The very first night she was benefits of the convention as well as to be
Vodka Good Gal Award.
National Convention, the festival should
The award is given for "for deeds that
reborn a greater star than she was in her an integral part of the Convention. We
will also provide an activity that will in
become the focus of culture and enter
help make the world a better place."
youth. Never in recorded history - and
volve the convention delegates with the
tainment beginning Saturday. July 1st
Alberta Hunter is being honored for her
that's a long time - has a vocalist, after 20
Black community."
and lasting through July 4th.
public television fund-raising activities,
years away from singing, been reborn a
The NAACP Convention Committee is
For further information call Charles
her contributions to the NAACP. and her
bigger star than ever. You people who
seeking sponsors to share sponsorship of
White at 238 2891 between 8:00 a.m.
frontline USO appearances during the
think that life has passed you by at 40.
and 5:00 p.m.
World War II and Korea.
should know Alberta Hunter sings better the Community Festival to help defray
than she did at 30.”
After retiring from show business in
1954, Alberta Hunter took a three-year
The Gordon's Vodka Good Gal Award
course at the Harlem YMCA to become a
was presented to Alberta Hunter at
licensed practical nurse, and practiced for
the Cookery on Tuesday. May 9th by
20 years before her mandatory retire
Clive Greaves, President of Gordon's Dry
ment in 1977.
Gin Company Limited.
She spent those 20 years at Goldwater
Gordon's will also make a cash donation
Notice of Pendency of Litigation and Proposed Settlement and Dismissal of Class
Memorial Hospital on Roosevelt Island m
to NAACP in behalf of the 83-year old
Allegations of Employment Discrimination on the Basis of Race and National Origin in
New York City. No one knew of her past.
blues singer.
Violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended. Against
"The hospital people thought I was 70 at
After each show at the Cookery.
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS, LOCAL 701.
retirement time last April, but I fibbed
Alberta Hunter evokes a standing ova
about my age when they hired me, and
tion and tells the audience: “You don’t
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF OREGON
was really 82, born April 1, 1895 in
know what you're doing to me. You give
Memphis.
me so much inspiration."
UNITED MINORITY W ORKERS, et al.,
Says Mildred Crisp, associate director
Previous recipients of the Gordon's
PlaintiflM.
of the hospital: "She was never late all of
Vodka Good Gal Awards are: Actress
CIVIL NO. 74-395
V.
those years and usually got here at least a Hermione Gingold of her charitable en
half-hour before her duty began at 3:30
deavors: Lucille Armstrong, widow of
INTERNATIONAL
UNION
OF
p.m. Miss Hunter was devoted to her
“Satchmo" Armstrong for her community
OPERATING ENGINEERS. LOCAL
patients she acrued 90 to 100 unused sick
development concern; jazz pianist Martan
701.
days. Most people around her had no idea
McPartland for providing free concerts
Defendant.
she's ever been a singer!"
before prison inmates; actress Gretchen
Alberta Hunter is currently perform
Wyler for her work with the Humane
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTU
ing before audiences at the Cookery in
Society: and television and stage actress
NITY COMMISSION.
New York's Greenwich Village. Owner
Emily Yancy for her work with Califor
CIVIL NO. 76-577
Barney Josephson rediscovered the jazz
Plaintiffs
nias Kwanza Foundation, a community
legend and is now also her manager.
self help group. Actress Geraldine Fitz
Josephson, who is now 75 and white, gerald for working with Neighborhood
INTERNATIONAL
UNION
OF
caused a stir in 1938 when he established
Street Theater groups.
OPERATING ENGINEERS. LOCAL
701; OREGON COLUMBIA CHAPTER.
ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRAC
TORS OF AMERICA,
Defendants.
Elderly singer wins 'Good Gal’
Legal Notice
JOE’S PLACE
SEE SPORTS O N G IA N T SCREEN T V.
N O T IC E OF PRO PO SED S E T T L E M E N T
The Friendly Tavern
( iwner
Joseph Benjamin
184)1 N E Alberta
288-8768
ALL
POOR
WOMEN*
YES ALL! Regardless of who or what: Black, white, ex-con. gay. or any other«! In a
dream. God told me to rescue all repressed people; and he gave me the tools to do
the job.
he firs t<><> i- intended for use with the most continuously repressed people in
history WOMEN! but especially, poor women. Should a woman'» chances for
equality go down the tube, tied to issues of her morality? Why are special groups
trying to stop legal abortions for poor women? Why is woman's physical nature
used to block her progress and to keep her in bondage? Why is it that women,
particularly poor and teenage women, are held as property mortgaged to the
dogmatisms of an international cartel? How and why are women used as hostages
in the conquest for empire and control of society by the merchandize™ of God's
If you want solutions for your dilemnas, come to the
King Neighborhood Facility
(Cafeteria)
7:30p.m.
M ay 17fh
♦815 N.E. 7th
It 8 free, and I’ll be there: Leonard
Poff.
If you are a member of a racial or ethnic minority, (a Black person or Spanish
surnamed American I and tried to obtain employment in the operating engineers trade,
your rights may be affected by this lawsuit and its proposed settlement, and you
should read this notice carefully.
On May 12. 1974 a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination in union membership,
training and work referral practices was filed by the United Minority Workers and
certain named individuals (hereafter UMW I against the International Union of
Operating Engineers. laical 701 (hereafter Loral 7011 in the Federal Court in Portland
Oregon under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended. On June 24. 1976
the Lnited States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (hereafter EEOC)
filed a similar lawsuit against laical 701 under Title VII and joined as an interested
party the Oregon Columbia Chapter Associated General Contractors of America
(hereafter AGO. These two lawsuits were consolidated on April 4, 1977. The
Defendants have denied the allegations of unlawful discrimination. The cases have not
come to trial and the Court has made no findings or determinations which substantiate
or refute any of the claims. The respective parties, with the assistance of the Court, in
these cases have engaged in negotiations for the purposes of a settlement. The terms
of a proposed consent decree have been agreed to by the EEOC. UMW. Local 701,
AGC and provisionally by the Court.
The proposed consent decree provides certain benefits to a defined group of
minority persons These benefits are described below in the summary of the consent
decree. If you wish to obtain the benefits, you must complete a claim form not later
than June 1. 1978.
A summary of the terms of the proposed consent decree is set forth below. A copy of
the complete proposed consent decree is available for examination at the office of the
Clerk of the U.S. District Court, Room 604, Federal Courthouse. 620 S.W. Main Street,
Portland. Oregon 97205, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through
Friday,
THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT
1.1 Dismissal of class action allegations. Under the terms of the proposed consent
decree, the class action allegations of the UMW lawsuit will be dismissed and no class
of persons will be certified.
1.2 Discrimination defined The proposed consent decree defines as a minority
group discriminatee an individual who:
a. is Black or a Spanish surnamed American.
b. is now or at one time was a bona fide resident within the geographical
jurisdiction of Local 701 (Oregon and parts of Washington): and
e. registered for work referral at Local 701 or applied for operating engineers' work
with a contractor within the geographical jurisdiction of Local 701 at a time between
4/29/70 and 1/1/77. Three types of benefits to a minority group discriminatee are
contained in the proposed consent decree: priority referral status, training or back
pay.
1.3 Priority referral status. A minority group discriminatee who applies shall be
accorded referral status in Group I if he has 2,000 hours of work or training in recent
years in the operating engineers' trade. Group 11 referral status will be accorded
other minority group discriminatees who have some of those hours, until they get
2,000 hours of work experience and training, at which time Group I status will be
attained.
1.4 Training Each minority group discriminatee may choose to take training as an
"experienced apprentice" and shall receive the regular apprenticeship training and
education offered by the Heavy Equipment Operator Joint Apprenticeship and
Training Committee (JATC) and. if complying with training and work requirements,
shall receive also a supplemental training stipend as follows:
a. $150 in cash, or in room, board and transportation costing $150 per week for the
initial (our weeks of offsite related training.
b. An additional subsistence allowance of $150 per week payable to a discriminatee
who is the head of a household during the initial four weeks of offsite related training
c. Supplemental unemployment compensation shall be payable in weekly amounts
up to $150 at times during the first six months after the apprentice successfully
completes the initial offsite related training. However, the maximum total amount of
such payments to any individual shall not exceed $800.00.
d. The priority referral status benefit will also be available to persons taking
training.
1.6 Back pay. Any minority group discriminatee who does not elect priority referral
status or training may make a claim against a back pay fund of $15,000 established by
Local 701. This fund shall pay up to $500 to each claimant for each proven good faith
attempt to obtain work (as defined in the proposed consent decree) between April 1st
and October 1st of any calendar year between 1970 and 1976. inclusive. No claimant
shall receive more than $1.000 for any calendar year or more than a total from the fund
of $2,000. If claims exceed the amount of the fund, there will be no disbursements
from the fund until all claims have been proved or disproved. If proved rlainr, exceed
the amount of the fund, the fund will be distributed on a pro-rated basis.
1.6 Claim forms. Claim forms for priority referral status, training or back pay may
be obtained by requesting a copy either in person or by written request addressed to:
Carney, Probst. Ijevak & Cornelian. Attorneys at Law, 410 Riviera Plaza, 1618 S.W
First Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97201, or: Gaylord & Thomas. Attorneys at Law, 1400
S.W. Montgomery, Portland, Oregon 97201. Claim forms must be completed and
returned personally or by mailing and actually delivered not later than 5:00 p.m., June
1.1978, addressed to: Gaylord & Thomas. Attorneys at Law, 1400 S.W. Montgomery.
Portland. Oregon 97201. Failure to complete and return the claim form by that date
will disqualify a claimant from further consideration for priority referral status,
training or back pay under the proposed consent decree.
TIMETABLE AND COURT HEARING
2.1 The Court has provisionally approved the proposed consent decree described
above, which would settle these lawsuits, subject to consideration of any showing
made as to why the Court ahould not finally approve the settlement. A hearing to
determine whether the Court should approve the proposed settlement will be held on
May 22. 1978 at 9:00 a.m. in Room 717 of the U.S. Courthouse. 620 S.W. Main Street.
Portland, Oregon 97205. If the consent decree is approved by the Court, all race
discrimination claims of members of the alleged, but not certified class, will be finally
settled and compromised.
Failure to participate under the terms of the proposed consent decree may
terminate your individual right to bring an action against Local 701 or AGC for race
discrimination for years prior to 1977, and you will not be entitled to share in the
benefits ol that settlement.
You need do nothing with regard to this notice unless you wish to obtain priority
referral status, training or back pay as described above, or to appear at the hearing to
object to the proposed settlement.
Any person who wishes to object to the terms of this settlement must appear st the
hearing on May 22. 1978 to show cause why the settlement and content decree should
not be approved. However, no person will be heard and no papers or briefs submitted
by any such person shall be considered, except by special permission of the Court,
unless, on or before May 19, 1978, the person files with the Court a written notice of
intention to appear and all papers and briefs which that person wants to submit.
This notice has been approved by counsel for Plaintiffs and Defendants and by the
Court.
DATED this 1st day of May. 1978.
/» / Otto J. Skopil, Jr.
U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE
Additional claim forms are available at:
United Minority Workers
106 N.E. Morris Street
Portland, Oregon
1503) 288 6617
Urban League
5329 N.E. Union Street
Portland. Oregon (503) 288-0168
I